Meta announced a $2 billion purchase of the AI firm Manus, which recently moved its operations to Singapore. Chinese regulators are reviewing the deal for possible export‑control violations, questioning whether Manus required a license to relocate. The acquisition would keep Manus operating independently while giving Meta access to its large‑scale token processing and AI expertise. The regulatory review adds uncertainty to the transaction, though both companies say the partnership will enhance Meta’s AI portfolio. Read more →

Meta Platforms has agreed to purchase Manus, a Singapore‑based artificial‑intelligence startup known for its versatile AI agents. The deal, valued at roughly $2 billion, follows Manus’s rapid rise after a high‑profile funding round that drew investors such as Benchmark, Tencent and others. Meta plans to keep Manus operating independently while integrating its technology into Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The acquisition also addresses U.S. political concerns about Chinese ties, as Meta says Manus will cease any operations or ownership links in China after the transaction. Read more →

Meta has completed a high‑profile acquisition of Manus, an AI startup famed for its custom research and website‑building agents. Valued at more than $2 billion, the deal marks one of the largest purchases of a company emerging from China’s AI ecosystem. Manus, originally known as Butterfly Effect, describes itself as “the first general AI agent,” drawing on models such as Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Alibaba’s Qwen to automate tasks ranging from market research to coding. The startup, now based in Singapore after laying off most of its Beijing staff, claims to serve millions of users and generate over $100 million in annualized revenue just eight months after launch. Read more →